Line making attachment for typewriters



June 23, 1953 E. G. MOSHER 2,642,977

LINE MAKING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Filed April 4, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

EDWARD G. MOSHE BY ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1953 LINE MAKING ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Edward G. Mosher, Denver, 0010.

Application April 4, 1949,Serial No. 85,372

8 Claims. (Cl. 197-113;)

This invention relates in general to a line forming attachment for a typewriter, and in particular to an auxiliary attachment mountable on the frame of a typewriter, and including a writing implement such as a ball point type pen which may be moved into or out of engagement with the platen for making lines on the paper carried by saidplaten.

It is desirable, in many instances, to make vertical and horizontallines on typewritten wort; when preparing graphs, charts, illustrations and the like. Although, with most typewriters, one can hold a pen or pencil against a support while rotating or moving the platen horizontally, it is cliflicult in this manner tomake clear cut straight lines as the pen or pencil cannot be held absolutely steady and the pressure is not always constant.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a line formin device mountable on the 3 vide a writing implement mounting and adjust ing means which will provide considerable latitude in the proper positioning of said writing implement.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a writing implement support which is spring-urged toward the platen to keep a steady pressure between the writing implement and the paper on the platen. I

It is one more object of the invention to p ovide a resilient stop member detachably engage'able with the writing implement to prevent contact between the writing implement and -the paper on the platen when the lining process is not desired, and also to impart additional pressure on the writing implement when it is performing its lining function.

Further objects and advantages, as well as the construction and operation of my invention will be better understood by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanyingdrawingin which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my invention mounted on a typewriter, a portion of the platen only being shown, and the writing implement being positioned clear of "the platen.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, detailed front elevational view of the invention, showing a fragmentary View of the frame on which the device is mounted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevationalw-iewpf the invention, showing a fragmentary view of the platen, the writing implement being shown in line forming position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the resilient stop member and the aperture therein.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 3 showing the writing implement moved from line forming position and being held by the resilient stop member from contacting the platen.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference l designates a platen on a typewriter and '2 indicates a portion-0f the typewriter frame.

The line forming device comprising my invention has a U-shaped yoke 3 secured to the typewriter frame 2 by suitable fastening members 4. A pair of side links 5 are pivotally mounted to the yoke 3 by pin 6. A spring 1 encircles the pin 6 at one 'end thereof and has one end 8 secured under one :of the. fastening members 4 and the other end 9 hooked about one edge of one of the side links 5 for the purpose hereinafter specified.

At the upper end of each of the links 5 is carried the pen bar I O, pivotally mounted on threaded screw H, a large nut I 2 providing means for locking the pen bar In and pen in adjusted position.

The writing implement or pen l3, which may be of the ball point variety, 'is-carried in an opening l3 in the pen bar 10 and is so related to the threaded screw II that the threads of the latter will engage the pen -to preventlongitudinal movement thereof.

I have preferred to use a ball point pen in the embodiment of my invention but I do not want to be limited to any particular form of a writing implement as any suitable :means for .forming a line may be successfully employed in my invention.

A resilient pen engaging member M is secured under the yoke fastening members :4 and has a pen insertion opening 15, reduced :pen engaging 3 sired. As indicated in Fig. 1, the pen [3 may be swung to a vertical position clear of the resilient member [4 when circumstances make it desirable that the pen be so positioned remote from the platen.

When it is desired to use the pen for forming lines, the nut I2 is released and the pen i3 is swung so that it will coincide with insertion opening IS in the resilient pen engaging member M, said member [4 then being manually forced rearwardiy until the opening I5 is clear of shoulder l8 on the pen at which time the pen is swung down into the reduced pen engaging slot Hi. Pressure on member 14 is released and the nut I2 is tightened to prevent further vertical movement of the pen, which is now being urged toward the platen by spring 1 and by resilient member l4.

Movement of the carriage horizontally will produce horizontal lines. Rotation of the platen will produce vertical lines on the paper.

When the pen is no longer needed for forming lines, nut I2 is loosened and .the pen swung up until it coincides with opening l5 at which time the resilient member 14 will move slightly toward the platen due to its inherent resiliency, and the pen can be tilted until it rests in slot IT. The nut can be tightened until it is again desired to use the pen for line forming. It will also be seen that the pen can be tilted to substantially vertical position and held there until needed again for line forming.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a relatively simple line forming device for typewriters and the like which may be mounted on the frame of the typewriter and moved into and out of engagement with a paper on the platen. Vertical and horizontal lines can be easily made and the use of a ball point pen will facilitate making lines through a number of carbon copies as considerable pressure can be exerted with such a pen.

The pen, which is a standard unit easily obtainable, can be quickly and easily replaced, thus making for a permanent device available for constant and continuous use.

Although my line forming device has been shown on a typewriter, it is obvious that my invention can be used on a bookkeeping, billing, calculating or similar machine where it is desirable to form lines for various purposes.

It is obvious that changes in form, proportion and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention and I reserve all rights to such changes as come within the scope of these specifications and the claims which follow.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letter Patent is:

1. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a. writing implement, a support for the writing implement, said support being adapted to be carried on the typewriter frame, a spring normally urging the writing implement into writing position, and a resilient member in the path of the writing implement, said resilient member having a plurality of openings therein, the writing implement being adjustably and individually related to the openings in the resilient member, said writing implement when engaged in one of the openings being urged by the resilient member into writing position, when engaged in another opening being freely movable with respect to the resilient member, and when engaged in the third opening being retarded by the resilient member from movement toward writing position.

2. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a support for the writing implement, support securing members holding said support to the typewriter frame, a spring normally urging the support and the writing implement into writing position, and a resilient member carried by the support and positioned in the path of the writing implement, said resilient member having openings therein, the writing implement being adjustably related to the resilient member and the openings therein, said writing implement when in contact with one of the openings being urged into writing position, when received in another opening being freely movable with respect to th resilient member, and when in contact with the third opening being retarded by the resilient member from movement toward writing position.

3. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a yoke carried on the typewriter frame, a Writing implement support pivotally carried by the yoke, a spring normally urging the support and the writing implement into writing position, and a resilient member in the path of the writing implement, said resilient member having a plurality of openings therein, the writing implement being adjustably related to the openings in the resilient member, the writing implement being urged toward writing position by the resilient member when in one of the openings, the writing implement being freely movable with respect to the resilient member when in a second opening, and the resilient member retarding movement of the writing implement toward writing position when the writing implement is in a third opening.

4. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a yoke carried on the typewriter frame, a writing implement support pivotally carried by the yoke, a pivot pin passing through the support and the yoke, and a spring encircling the pivot pin and contacting the support and the yoke and normally urging the support and the writing implement into writing position.

5. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a yoke carried on the typewriter frame, a writing implement support pivotally carried by the yoke, a spring normally urging the support and the writing implement into writing position, and a resilient member secured to and extending from the yoke and having openings therein, said resilient member being in the path of the writing implement, the writing implement being adjustably and selectivel related to the openings in the resilient member and being urged into writing position, freely movable with respect to the resilient member, or retarded from movement into writing position, depending on the opening to which it is related.

6. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a support for said writing implement, said support including a writing implement bar, the writing implement being adjustably carried by the bar, said bar being pivotally carried in the support, a locking device for securing the bar and the writing implement in adjusted position, a spring normally urging the writing implement and the support into writing position, and a resilient member in the path of the writing implement and having openings therein, the writing implement being adjustably and selectively related to the openings in the resilient member and being urged into writing position, freely movable with respect to the resilient member, or retarded from movement into writing position, depending on the opening to which it is related.

7. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a support for said writing implement, said support including a writing implement bar, a pin passing through the bar and pivotally relating said bar to the support, and a lock nut on the pin for securing the bar in adjusted position, said writing implement contacting the pin and being retained in adjusted longitudinal position thereby.

8. A line forming device for typewriters comprising a writing implement, a support for said Writing implement, said support being adapted to be carried on the typewriter frame, a stop shoulder on the writing implement, and a resilient 20 2431043 EDWARD G. MOSHER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 734,937 Peck July 28, 1903 1,368,926 Hansen Feb. 15, 1921 1,585,166 Nash May 18, 1926 Jackson Nov. 18, 1947 

